WWS Game 1: Canes 7, NSA Elite 1

After a long blogging hiatus (but not a baseball hiatus, as the Canes went 4-0 in Pigeon Forge last weekend), the Evoshield Canes returned to the field in Friday night's Winter World Series opener. In a game shortened to five innings by the time limit, the Canes ground out a not-very-attractive 7-1 victory.

In a game which Coach Sean summarized as, "We didn't have very good approaches at the plate," the Canes got three two-out runs in the first two innings, which would be all the offense that was needed to back the pitching of Drew and Asher, who combined to allow just two NSA runners to reach third base all night. For the game, the Canes outhit NSA just 6-5, but played virtually spotless defense to her provide the comfortable margin.

The Winter World Series continues on Saturday afternoon, and then the schedule potentially gets wacky.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Chace doubled, then stole third and scored on a throwing error.
Score after one inning: Canes 1, NSA 0

Second inning

Brady singled and went to second on a balk. He advanced to third on a throwing error, then scored on a wild pitch. Colin reached on an error, stole second, went to third on a throwing error, and scored on Eli's single.

Score after two innings: Canes 3, NSA 1

Fourth inning
Bryce reached on an error and stole third. He scored on a passed ball. Colin walked and went to second on a balk. A passed ball put him on third. Eli walked and stole second. Jake walked. Drew's single scored Colin. Andrew and Gavin drew RBI walks.
Score after four innings: Canes 7, NSA 1

Pitching Performances

Drew started and threw two innings of one-hit ball.

Asher finished up with three innings of scoreless relief.

Dugout wisdom
Wisdom was in short supply in this game, probably because the wisest of them all--Coach Sean--was running just a touch late, and was last seen running poles at the Indian Lakes Sports Complex and muttering, "DARN IT."

Game 1 Web Gems

• Andrew came in and made a nice catch of a sinking liner in the first.
• Chace made a nice snag on a twisting shot down the first base line to end the first.
• With one out and a runner on second in the third, Gavin fielded a grounder to short, held the runner, and threw to Chace at first to get the out. That's when the runner decided to sprint for third, but Chace came up firing, with JT making the pickup and tag on the other end for the inning-ending double play.
• Gavin made a great play and long throw deep in the hole in the fifth, but the runner was somehow called first, presumably because the umpire believed no 12U player could make that play.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
NSA Elite	0	1	0	0	0	X	1	5
Canes	1	2	0	4	X	X	7	6